Choose The Elder Scrolls® Online
Choose The Elder Scrolls® Online if you want an Action and Adventure game with HDR available, Camera Comfort, and Custom Volume Controls. 73,647 Steam reviews back the pick.
The Elder Scrolls® Online vs Kathana
The Elder Scrolls® Online and Kathana both land in Massively Multiplayer, RPG on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Massively Multiplayer, RPG on Steam. The Elder Scrolls® Online (2017) is 8 years older than Kathana (2025). The Elder Scrolls® Online scores higher on Steam reviews (81.6% positive) than Kathana (80.3% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Kathana
Choose Kathana if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Kathana launched in 2025.
Both The Elder Scrolls® Online and Kathana sit in Massively Multiplayer and RPG on Steam and both list Multi-player, MMO, and Online PvP, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (81.6% vs 80.3% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 The Elder Scrolls® Online |  Kathana | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer, RPG | Massively Multiplayer, RPG, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Unsupported |
| Price | 19.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 81.6% positive (73,647 reviews) | 80.3% positive (284 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | ZeniMax Online Studios | Gameolic Development Studio |
Side by side
- Both share Massively Multiplayer, RPG on Steam.
- The Elder Scrolls® Online (2017) is 8 years older than Kathana (2025).
- The Elder Scrolls® Online scores higher on Steam reviews (81.6% positive) than Kathana (80.3% positive).
- Kathana is free; The Elder Scrolls® Online is paid (19.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Steam Deck: The Elder Scrolls® Online is Deck Playable, Kathana is Deck Unsupported.
The Elder Scrolls® Online vs Kathana — FAQ
- Which is better, The Elder Scrolls® Online or Kathana?
- On Steam reviews the two are nearly tied: The Elder Scrolls® Online sits at 81.6% positive (73,647 reviews), Kathana at 80.3% (284). The choice usually comes down to genre fit and the platform features each one supports — see the comparison table above.
- Should I play The Elder Scrolls® Online or Kathana first?
- If you want chronology, The Elder Scrolls® Online (2017) came out before Kathana (2025). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are The Elder Scrolls® Online and Kathana similar?
- They overlap on Massively Multiplayer, RPG on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both The Elder Scrolls® Online and Kathana have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: The Elder Scrolls® Online ships Online Co-op, Co-op; Kathana ships Online Co-op, Co-op.
- Is Kathana free?
- Yes — Kathana is a free-to-play Steam title. The Elder Scrolls® Online is paid (19.99 USD).